27 Things About My life

This May I turned 27. Today I decided to share with you twenty-seven interesting things about my life. Many people find those facts quite interesting

#1 I was born in the country that doesn't exist today

I was born in USSR in 1989. The country disintegrated in 1991. The country is also known as the Soviet Union. Currently, the place where I was born located in Russia.  

#2 I was born closer to US/Canada than to Moscow

I was born in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The city is located on Kamchatka Peninsula. We left when I was 2-3 months old. Hopefully, I will visit this place someday.

#3 My secondary school had spread across three continents

Because we moved a lot, my schooling was in Asian and European parts of Russia. Grade 12 I did in the US.

#4 I left Russia at the age of 17

I became a participant of the FLEX program. After that, I moved to Canada.

#5 I wrote fiction and it was published

Some years ago I wrote two short stories. They were published in two different magazines: Praise Writers  and Twisted Endings.

#6 I am a sweet tooth

I love sweet things: cakes, candies, pastries, smoothies, caramel, chocolate, vanilla. I have to be careful with those things. They can be harmful healthwise.

#7 I have two cats

The first cat was adopted from a shelter. The second cat's owners were moving and could not take the kitty with them.

#8 My Bible is bilingual 

One side is in English and another side in Russian.

#9 I didn't speak English until I was 17

I knew a bit of English: just barely. It was hard to live in the US for the first few weeks. I felt like I was deaf and mute. 

#10 My English is better than Russian

If I had a choice to speak English or Russian, I would choose English. In the past few months, I told my mom that I would speak English to her if she knew speaking English well.

#11 My love towards reading

I love books. I read a different kind of books: fiction, history, science, and other books.

#12 Chess player

I used to play chess when I was 10-16 years old: participated in various competitions. I even got level C according to international classification.

#13 My love for puns

It's not noticeable on my blog, but I love puns. Sometimes I say, "Apple is the most appropriate computer for vegetarians." This one is  almost eight years old.

#14 I am not good at waiting.

I am able to wait in the lineup/queue at a store. I have no problem waiting for a certain event/appointment when I know the date. The hardest part of waiting not knowing when something will happen: you are waiting and praying, but the answer doesn't come yet. 

#15 I love cooking

Whenever I have time, I cook. I love trying out new recipes.

#16 Traveling

I have traveled quite a bit in the past. I also visited Japan when I was 16 years old.

#17 One of my childhood dreams came true

When I was a teenager I wanted to have a friend from Japan. Now I have not just one but two Japanese friends.

#18 Guest Post

Last year my guest post was published on (in)courage website. I felt privileged because many famous christian authors are regular contributors. I remember thinking how it made me special. Maybe someday I will be published somewhere else.

#19 I endured a lot of bullying during middle school. 

I hated to go to middle school. There were cases when fellow classmates would through a dirty rug in my face. I can say that today I forgave those people.

#20 I had a lot of surgeries

I had seven major surgeries from the age seven to fourteen. They were on my legs and arms.

#21 I have seen Michael W. Smith at the life concert

Ten years ago he was performing at one of the churches  I went out with one of my friends and her parents. It was glorious.

#22 I am not crazy about new gadgets 

I don't have an iPad, iPod or the latest smartphone. 

#23 Writing Letters

I love writing real letters with pen on paper. It creates a more personal connection. 

#24 People mistake me for many different nationalities

I have been mistaken for Italian, Hispanic, Hungarian, Middle Eastern even South Asian, thanks toy olive-colored skin. However, I do have some South European ancestry and a Persian ancestor.

#25  Newfoundland

For now, I live in Newfoundland, the most eastern place of the North America.  

#26 I did the Edge Walk

A few years ago I visited a friend in Ontario and I did the Edge Walk. It's a walk on the outside of CN tower. You'll get so much adrenaline. 

#27 I have visited Niagara Falls

Such glorious falls located at the Canadian/US border.